100 Bible Verses about Pleasing God

1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV / 3,571 helpful votes

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / 3,386 helpful votes

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 3,128 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 8:8 ESV / 3,106 helpful votes

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Proverbs 16:7 ESV / 3,025 helpful votes

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

John 8:29 ESV / 2,972 helpful votes

And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

1 John 3:22 ESV / 2,803 helpful votes

And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

Galatians 1:10 ESV / 2,781 helpful votes

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2,768 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Hebrews 13:16 ESV / 2,665 helpful votes

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 2,558 helpful votes

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Romans 8:5 ESV / 2,309 helpful votes

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

John 5:30 ESV / 2,184 helpful votes

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Hosea 6:6 ESV / 2,145 helpful votes

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Philippians 2:12-16 ESV / 2,139 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Colossians 1:9-10 ESV / 2,125 helpful votes

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Romans 12:1 ESV / 2,111 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV / 1,848 helpful votes

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 1,765 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Philippians 2:13 ESV / 1,764 helpful votes

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Mark 12:33 ESV / 1,745 helpful votes

And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 1,713 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV / 1,699 helpful votes

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 1,698 helpful votes

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Ephesians 5:8-10 ESV / 1,674 helpful votes

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Hebrews 11:5-6 ESV / 1,582 helpful votes

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 5:29 ESV / 1,578 helpful votes

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Colossians 1:10 ESV / 1,540 helpful votes

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Hebrews 11:5 ESV / 1,522 helpful votes

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

Proverbs 29:25 ESV / 1,496 helpful votes

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

1 Corinthians 10:33 ESV / 1,494 helpful votes

Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

2 Timothy 2:4 ESV / 1,489 helpful votes

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Psalm 40:8 ESV / 1,486 helpful votes

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

Romans 12:12 ESV / 1,482 helpful votes

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Ephesians 6:6 ESV / 1,479 helpful votes

Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 1,457 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 15:2 ESV / 1,447 helpful votes

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Ephesians 5:10 ESV / 1,436 helpful votes

And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

John 12:43 ESV / 1,431 helpful votes

For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 1,422 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 1,410 helpful votes

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

John 5:44 ESV / 1,408 helpful votes

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Hebrews 13:15-16 ESV / 1,391 helpful votes

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Colossians 3:22 ESV / 1,387 helpful votes

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Psalm 149:4 ESV / 1,360 helpful votes

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

1 Chronicles 29:17 ESV / 1,351 helpful votes

I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

Matthew 17:5 ESV / 1,349 helpful votes

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 1,330 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Psalm 147:10-11 ESV / 1,305 helpful votes

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Titus 2:14 ESV / 1,251 helpful votes

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Jeremiah 17:5 ESV / 1,211 helpful votes

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.

Philippians 4:18 ESV / 1,210 helpful votes

I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

Psalm 51:16-17 ESV / 1,201 helpful votes

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Ezekiel 33:11 ESV / 1,159 helpful votes

Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Isaiah 2:22 ESV / 1,140 helpful votes

Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 1,139 helpful votes

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Matthew 10:28 ESV / 1,115 helpful votes

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Romans 14:17-18 ESV / 1,112 helpful votes

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Luke 6:26 ESV / 1,016 helpful votes

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Ezekiel 18:23 ESV / 995 helpful votes

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

Ephesians 5:2 ESV / 975 helpful votes

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV / 968 helpful votes

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 933 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Micah 6:8 ESV / 920 helpful votes

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

James 4:4 ESV / 904 helpful votes

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 Timothy 5:3-5 ESV / 895 helpful votes

Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,

Acts 4:19-20 ESV / 894 helpful votes

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Proverbs 29:26 ESV / 881 helpful votes

Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.

John 5:2 ESV / 876 helpful votes

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.

Colossians 3:22-25 ESV / 872 helpful votes

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Colossians 1:27 ESV / 872 helpful votes

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV / 865 helpful votes

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Revelation 4:11 ESV / 839 helpful votes

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Colossians 1:13 ESV / 829 helpful votes

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Galatians 1:6 ESV / 829 helpful votes

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Colossians 2:10 ESV / 826 helpful votes

And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 824 helpful votes

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Colossians 1:15 ESV / 823 helpful votes

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Philippians 2:2-3 ESV / 819 helpful votes

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Galatians 1:1 ESV / 818 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

James 5:16 ESV / 802 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Hebrews 13:21 ESV / 794 helpful votes

Equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Proverbs 21:3 ESV / 780 helpful votes

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 ESV / 760 helpful votes

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 686 helpful votes

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 147:11 ESV / 659 helpful votes

But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

1 Timothy 5:4 ESV / 656 helpful votes

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

Philippians 1:10 ESV / 651 helpful votes

So that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

1 Thessalonians 4:5 ESV / 649 helpful votes

Not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Psalm 69:30-31 ESV / 639 helpful votes

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

Romans 12:4 ESV / 637 helpful votes

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

Philippians 2:2 ESV / 610 helpful votes

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Galatians 6:1-18 ESV / 590 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. ...

Jeremiah 6:20 ESV / 587 helpful votes

What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.

Exodus 29:18 ESV / 580 helpful votes

And burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.

Romans 8:8-9 ESV / 578 helpful votes

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

1 Kings 3:10 ESV / 577 helpful votes

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

Genesis 15:1 ESV / 577 helpful votes

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

Hebrews 13:2 ESV / 574 helpful votes

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Ezra 6:10 ESV / 574 helpful votes

That they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

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